For three years, law enforcement across Southern California has been grappling with a surge in copper wire thefts from streetlights, leading to darkened roads and neighborhoods.
Now, an unexpected factor may influence this issue: President Donald Trump’s fluctuating tariff policy.
On July 30, President Donald Trump announced a significant change to the tariff structure on copper products.
The U.S. would only impose a 50% tariff on semi-finished copper goods like pipes and wires, diverging from previous threats of levying taxes on all forms of copper.
This announcement sent copper prices plummeting, with a notable 22% decline within a week.
As copper prices collapse, the pressing question remains: will this decrease in market value lead to a reduction in wire theft?
Los Angeles has previously dealt with spikes in theft driven by rising metal prices, as seen with a surge in catalytic converter thefts tied to increases in the value of precious metals.
Research indicates that a 10% rise in metal prices can correlate with a 20% increase in theft incidents.
With the recent drop in copper prices, it will soon be seen if the reverse is true.
This summer, copper wire thefts in Los Angeles escalated, marking a troubling trend.
The city recorded 46,139 MyLA311 streetlight complaints last year, the highest number on record.
High-profile incidents included the removal of all wiring from the 6th Street Bridge, leaving it entirely dark, and a theft that disrupted landline services for seniors in South Los Angeles.
The Eastsider highlighted a sharp rise in streetlight outages in Silver Lake, while KTLA covered rampant thefts in Los Feliz.
In response, the Los Angeles Police Department initiated a “Heavy Metal Task Force” focused not only on apprehending thieves but also targeting scrap dealers who bought the stolen copper wire.
This task force made significant arrests and managed to drive down the number of complaints about darkened streetlights.
As of June, reported streetlight outages fell to 2,873, a notable decrease from January’s peak of 5,200.
Despite the decrease in complaints, the issue persists.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta described the ongoing crisis in a June 5 bulletin, emphasizing that while the profit for thieves is minimal, the damage inflicted on infrastructure incurs far greater costs to municipalities.
“Because thieves damage the equipment housing copper wire when stealing it, the cost to replace the copper wire can greatly exceed the value of the stolen wire,” Bonta noted.
Residents continue to deal with the fallout of copper theft, as they often find their neighborhoods dark and unsafe.
Mid-City West resident Greg Roth experienced this firsthand when streetlights in his area went dark in December 2024.
After filing multiple complaints through MyLA311 and reaching out to council members, the lights were finally restored in June—and Roth remains concerned about the ease with which thieves could strike again.
“If somebody wanted to come back and steal the copper wires again, I don’t think that they would have much difficulty doing it,” Roth expressed.
Community leaders like Jeanette Corcuera, a board member of the Miracle Mile Residential Association, have organized efforts to document outages in their area.
Corcuera reported nine outages along her block alone, with significant delays in repairs.
“It’s the number one concern in the neighborhood right now,” she stated, highlighting the dangers posed by darkened streets in an area already vulnerable to break-ins.
According to the Bureau of Street Lighting, repair wait times for streetlights often exceed six months.
The agency has plans to create rapid repair teams, install theft-resistant LED and solar-powered lighting, and enhance surveillance technology to safeguard infrastructure.
In May, the Bureau reported that they had installed 300 solar street lamps this year.
However, they were unable to provide updates on streetlight maintenance or copper-theft prevention efforts ahead of the recent tariff changes.
As Southern California awaits the outcomes of the fluctuating copper market, residents continue to grapple with the immediate impacts of copper wire theft.
image source from：xtown
